When she met Tang Wanzhuang, she was working in the Demon Suppression Office.
This was also the first time that Zhao Changhe saw Tang Wanzhuang sitting in the government office reviewing documents. Although the environment was very solemn, he could always feel that she was in a pavilion with a small bridge and flowing water, writing poetry and painting.
Wherever she sits, there is the scenery of Jiangnan.
Baoqin was still standing by his side, serving tea and grinding ink. She was also an official clerk in the Demon Suppression Division, in charge of internal affairs. In the modern world, she was called an assistant or secretary. Seeing Zhao Changhe coming, Baoqin glared at him with some resentment and annoyance, and continued to grind ink with her head down.
Baoqin should have been the one to refill the cup... It's not that Baoqin was overthinking it, but I've never seen an emperor fight with a maid for a cup... How can this country...
What is different from before is that Tang Wanzhuang now looks very good. She no longer has that paper-pale face and the occasional cough. Her cheeks are rosy, and the moment she saw Zhao Changhe, joy blossomed in her eyebrows and eyes, just like spring flowers blooming.
In the past, she was known as the most beautiful woman in the world. Now she is even more beautiful and smoother. It seems that this title cannot be taken away, nor does it need to be taken away.
Some of the Demon Suppression Division staff members around were secretly looking at their chief, and no matter they were married or unmarried, there was admiration in their eyes that could not be concealed.
So beautiful, this woman... It's a pity that her joy is only for one person.
"Your Highness, is the situation in the rear stable?" Tang Wanzhuang blinked and revealed a rare playful smile.
"Ahem." Zhao Changhe glanced around, and Tang Wanzhuang waved her hand: "Everyone, leave."
The surrounding staff all lowered their heads and left with jealousy and resentment.
Zhao Changhe turned around and watched everyone leave, clicking his tongue: "If people rebel because of jealousy, then this is an incredible disaster."
Tang Wanzhuang smiled but did not answer. She slowly stood up and sat on the coffee table next to her, making tea with her bare hands.
The aroma of tea was curling up and the steam was rising. Zhao Changhe sat in front of her and looked at her through the mist. His heart, which had been noisy for days, unconsciously calmed down.
It can be said that my temperament now is most influenced by Tang Wanzhuang. This kind of beauty can make people unconsciously pursue and approach it, making themselves become such a person. Zhao Changhe, who used to be full of foul language in the mountain village, now thinks it is a very distant thing.
Tang Wanzhuang handed over a cup of tea, glanced around to see that there was no one around, and whispered, "My husband, please have some tea."
At that moment, her cheeks were flushed and her head was slightly lowered, which made people's hearts skip a beat, like ripples in spring water.
Zhao Changhe took the tea and even felt that he had gone too far. He lowered his head and muttered, "These past few days..."
Tang Wanzhuang smiled slightly: "It was Wanzhuang who asked my husband to do these things, why should I feel ashamed?"
Let her treat you as I treat you...
Tang Wanzhuang continued, "I knew about the Suzaku when I was at the Yang family... I'm not surprised by this result. But I never thought that Xuanwu was also..."
At this point, her expression finally became a little strange: "Do you know? I used to be afraid of Xuanwu, even more than Suzaku. A long time ago, I was beaten by her... From the eldest daughter of the Tang family who was pampered and played the piano and wrote poems, I began to aspire to go out to study and venture into the world. It can be said that it was all thanks to Xuanwu. I was so anxious to break through that I hurt my soul and lung meridian. A large part of the pressure came from her... I thought I couldn't see through her, as deep as the abyss... Now I know that I thought too much. What kind of enemy am I fighting in the void..."
Zhao Changhe didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Originally, even if you had subdued Suzaku, I would have thought that Xuanwu would be a very troublesome hidden danger, but it turned out to be so..." Tang Wanzhuang smiled very easily: "So why should you be ashamed, my husband? In my opinion, you have clearly exceeded your due tasks." Zhao Changhe said helplessly: "How did it become a task..."
Tang Wanzhuang sighed and said, "As an important official of the court and the head of the Demon Suppression Division, I am a little embarrassed that I came up with an idea similar to the Beauty Trap for such a major national plan... But this is indeed the most intuitive method now, and it is also the cause planted by my husband himself, and it has been achieved by taking advantage of the situation. Although the process is absurd, the result is that the interests of all forces in the New Dynasty are now consistent, and there are no more hidden dangers. We can join hands to do what we should do."
Zhao Changhe hesitated for a moment and whispered, "Wanzhuang, from my perspective, this is not measured by such utilitarianism. I would rather you call me a playboy than think of them as..."
"They also view me in the same way, so it's fair." Tang Wanzhuang smiled: "Alas, how the husband and his wife's backyard belittle each other and regard each other as conquered is our business, so don't worry about it..."
Zhao Changhe: "...So do you guys also view Yuanyang in the same way?"
"Cui Yuanyang... she doesn't have the final say." Tang Wanzhuang shook her head slightly: "Suzaku Xuanwu is the leader of the Four Symbols Sect, Cui Yuanyang is not. The previous policy cannot be applied to this matter."
Zhao Changhe said: "I came here to discuss this matter with you. You know more about the affairs of the noble families than Chi Chiqing'er and the others."
"Qing'er... Hee..."
"… "
"Ahem." Tang Wanzhuang coughed dryly, "Just like Miss Wang married Cui Yuanyong and can only wipe tears in the cold palace now, the queen was directly sentenced to death by the late emperor without even leaving a will. Misses from aristocratic families, including me, originally had no self-esteem in such matters, we were just props. I am lucky enough, I have the highest status and the strongest military force in the family, and I can fight for my own future. As for Cui Yuanyang... her attitude is meaningless, you still need to deal with Cui Wenjing."
After a pause, he added: "In fact, the person you have been dating with the Cui family has always been Cui Wenjing, and Cui Yuanyang is just the link between you two."
Zhao Changhe nodded: "Yes."
Sometimes he himself doesn't know whether he is in love with Yangyang or Lao Cui, his presence is very strong.
"But having such a bond is an advantage over other families. He can be a relative by marriage, which is what he originally wanted to strive for." Tang Wanzhuang said, "But now the main problem has become a conflict of interest between the monarchy and the aristocratic families. The previous emperor cut off the roots of the aristocratic families, which caused a rebellion. Cui Wenjing did not participate in person, but giving Qinghe represented a severance of ties. Now that Your Majesty has established the Han Dynasty and no longer inherits the Xia Dynasty, Cui Wenjing should be watching from a distance to see how Your Majesty's attitude towards the aristocratic families compares to that of the previous emperor."
"Um."
"Cui Wenjing is the most visionary among all the families, but he is still a typical representative of the aristocratic family thinking. If he finds that Your Majesty is still following the steps of the previous emperor, then Cui Wenjing is more likely to cooperate with the Wang family than to pay homage to Your Majesty... Don't think that the Cui King is fighting to the death. The interests of the family are like those of the country. There are no eternal friends and enemies. At present, the Cui family has not expressed its position, which is nothing more than that our scientific expedition plan has not yet been announced and implemented... And Your Majesty and I are still discussing the new dynasty's tax system, which is a major challenge to the current aristocratic families' population and land annexation. Once announced, the Cui family will definitely be strangers."
Zhao Changhe finally said, "I know the truth, but how can we win together in this matter? This is a complete contradiction in terms, and there is no way to reach a consensus. It's useless to rely on deception. Old Cui, that old fox..."
"In the past, they relied on the Qinghe Sword to pass on ancient knowledge, including their martial arts and culture. The difference between this and the inheritance of classics by ordinary people is that classics need to be understood, and descendants may not be able to learn them if they are not worthy, but sword spirits can transmit insights through the soul, allowing them to make faster and more stable progress in cultivation than anyone else. Over the years, the sword spirit has been dormant, and each family has also declined accordingly, which is visible to the naked eye." Tang Wanzhuang said: "In a sense, the model of inheritance based on sword spirits has been proven to be not necessarily stable. Once the sword spirit goes wrong, the family inertia cannot keep up, and is dragged down and is worse than other families who are used to using classics."
Zhao Changhe nodded: "That's right."
"It is an established fact that the sword is broken now. It is meaningless to dwell on the past, worry about whether the sword can be restored, or dwell on hatred. It requires someone with great wisdom and determination to lead the family to wake up from the old inheritance model and adapt to a new era. Does Cui Wenjing have such determination and foresight?" Tang Wanzhuang said, "I believe he has already considered it. Only those who can walk ahead of the wave can gain the greatest benefits in the new era."
Zhao Changhe said: "Am I just a lobbyist? Shouldn't I give you something visible?"
Tang Wanzhuang stood up and bowed deeply: "Wanzhuang is acting on personal grounds... to seek the official title of Marquis of Wu for my nephew Buqi. This is an honorary title and fiefdom, and does not involve any power, but it is hereditary and will last forever along with the country."
(End of this chapter)